Hearing loss decisions — 2019

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for bilateral hearing loss has been denied. The effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral hearing loss has also been denied.

The Board has remanded the claims for increased ratings and service connection due to incomplete records, lack of nexus evidence, and need for further examination.

The Veteran's current bilateral hearing loss disability is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for hearing loss due to noise exposure during service. The Veteran is required to undergo a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his hearing loss disability.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA audiological examinations and a need for an opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's left ear hearing loss and service-connected tinnitus.

The Board dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings due to his death.

The Board has found that new examinations are needed for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hearing loss and coronary artery disease due to their potential worsening since previous evaluations. The issues of a higher rating for these conditions, as well as the claim for TDIU, will be remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of the reopened claim in June 2011. The Board also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

PTSD is rated at 70 percent from January 27, 2015 to April 19, 2018. Other service-connected disabilities are not currently on appeal.

The Veteran's headaches are granted service connection. The left ear hearing loss and perforation of the tympanic membrane (left ear) do not warrant initial compensable ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss. The cases of low back disability, heart disability, skin cancer and psoriasis, and diabetes mellitus, type II are all remanded due to the need for additional medical examinations and opinions.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus secondary to hearing loss, and obstructive sleep apnea secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's conditions are found to be related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity and functional effects of his service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a headache disorder, bilateral hearing loss, and bilateral shoulder disorder due to new evidence. The heart disorder claim remains denied.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus due to unclear findings in the May 2018 VA examination.

The Veteran's hearing loss is not service-connected as there is no evidence of a current disability related to service, and the claim is denied.,There is insufficient evidence to establish a current sleep disorder diagnosis or link it to service. The claim for a sleep disorder (claimed as Sleep Apnea) is denied.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for increased ratings for bilateral hearing loss disability. The decision specifies the specific periods of time and corresponding disability ratings.

The Board denied service connection for hearing loss, tinnitus, hypertension, and kidney disease as there was no evidence of onset or continuity of symptomatology during service or within one year after separation.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to military service. The Veteran's lay statements regarding onset of symptoms during service have been considered.